Demiguise - Should I still be wearing these glasses?

[zzzzzzzzzz]

Hi Demi - here I am again - hope you don't mind yet another question, but I really could use your help on this one. I've been pretty ill since we talked last with more and more pain in my face esp. round the eyes - this is unusual for me. I have had 2 severe migraines which were felt mostly at the back of the eyes (both) and have taken days for the eye pain to go away. I'm now wondering if I should be wearing these glasses as I notice when I take them off, my vision is not as bad as it used to be. Everything used to swim and now its not so bad - just weird when theres movement and I can feel my eyes trying to adjust. I'm wondering if they have changed again and the prism is now straining my eyes? do you think thats possible?.
I saw my Neuro last week and asked him if he would refer me to an ophthalmologist (my doc refused when I asked her - said it was just migraines - her answer to everything now)- he said he felt an orthoptist would be more appropriate & would look at a referal when I see him next in 2 weeks. I'm wondering if I should wait that long as referal will take a while - other option is to go to see optometrists again - very expensive and I'm rather cash-strapped at right now. I think the prism is 4-5 diopters.
In case you're interested, the MRI came out normal again. Lovely Neuro gave me Imitrex injections for those real bad episodes and 900mg Neurontin /day to try. He says he still doesn't have a dx for me, but he's going to try to treat symptoms in the mean time.

[zzzzzzzzzz]

Oh Demi...... So much info and so much appreciated, but I really don't know where to go next! I did'nt get to see the post before the appointment unfortunately - my brother is staying at the moment - in the computer room, and I have hardly been able to get near it.
It was a tough Neuro apptmnt this time - I had the last one of the day - he was running behind, and was expecting it to be brief - hows the meds? Good - I'll write you another script.
Oh blast - my bro wants to go to bed!!!!! I'll have to try again tomorrow - have to go right now - talk later.

[Demiguise]

We're on different zones (maybe 12hrs+ you're ahead). Didn't see
post till late last night & wrote this really long answer & hit
send. It was deleted! Some odd stuff here. I noticed pre-post
even got posted twice. Too late to stay up & remember so doing a
fast try before your poss. appt. Talk to Neuro abot the exam. I
don't think O.D. & Neuro are considering big picture. You are
using 3 rx's. Change internal & it may trip other functions. In
your case, the glasses & the muscle pull. 2D is alot but not for
your unique problem. 4-5D is really alot & maybe the 4 is needed
except you were tested w/ meds in your system so exam may
compensated. The test lens wk'd great since it was for a short
time in ofc. I find it hard to believe (but who knows), if you
could tolerate ALL day pull. I doubt you'll give up Imitrex
since you know results wk. That DOES alter BP & do visual-
disturbance changes in many. It wks direct in brain neurons.
The Neurontin is known to have a main side effect of dbl-blurred
vision/limb swellig/hdache trigger/muscle coordination or weaken
small muscles. Not all at once but here/there. The 'N' may be
causing the optic fluid to change & muscle spasm. This can trip
eye tension/hdache/& add extra lens power. I'd suggest always
using the same frame/only change rx. Later you can switch back
if need to. Not familiar w/ push-up but it's to tighten the eye
muscle for less prism. Check net & I'm sure there are others
that are easier w/ less strain. 5 D's may be answer but seldom
do you use eary on. You did good w/ 2. Maybe the 4. Both Dr's
need to be reminded what meds you're staying on. Maybe quick
mention of 'I know both affect the eye'. Maybe think abt the
fact that you're now poss. use to 'N' & may need higher & more
as you use. The 4D then would may be too much. Ask Neuro if
there is another rx for skeletal pain that you can use per-need
that deals w/ just the pain to try & if so, how to go off 'N'.
A stronge relaxant could trip eye to spasm, so YOU can control
the testing of dose for pain etc. The exam was stretching the
eye focusing + maybe the 'N' tripped a spasm. 'N' actually wks
in the spine fibers first & msges up to brain. That's why some
got pain relief below skull for a short time & is used off
label besides for seizures. Imitrex starts in the brain. It
will eventually give you muscle relief. Only you can know by
the feedback. There is a 'N' forum on net I've read. Many sound
like they loved it 1st 6mo. & then zip. To get off then, you
buy more to tirate dwn or seizure. It really is a drug that is
like a craving if you get on it for life because it wks. You
keep needing more dose though. There are lot's others to try &
cheaper. Need to get this sent. Write me later. 'Maybe print
this & read at ofc.'

[zzzzzzzzzz]

Hi Demi - glad I caught your post. Know what you mean about the bizarr Q&As. Sounds like charcoal is a great idea for you - I love it - as you say - very forgiving and for me, I get to see results quicker - my painting style is quite painstaking, but I've certainly had to loosen up a bit since this illness struck - which is a good thing as its lead me in new, exciting directions.
I saw an optometrist on friday - couldn't wait for Orthoptist - I will be seeing Neuro on thursday this week, and it'll take a while for the referal to go through I'd imagine. Eyes were driving me crazy, so decided its worth the money. Well - you know how I'd thought I'd got better? - He said "yes, they've changed - they're worse. Great! He did a pretty thorough exam which was a bit hard on my eyes & I had to tell him to stop a few times to let my eye rest. Afterwards I felt very dizzy and the following 2 days were hell - not even the imitrex injections helped - the pain around my eyes (mostly prism eye) was unbareable. Today I am still getting over it.
Is this a normal reaction to an eye exam? - didn't happen last time.
His recommendation is to do pen push-ups for three weeks to see if it helps, if no change - stronger prism. Turns out I have 2 Diopters right now, and he would put in 4-5 diopters if needed.
I'm not keen on the exercises - tried them today and they brought back the dizzy feeling after just 3.
Would love to just go ahead and get that prism right now - it felt so good when he put it in front of me to try, but I think I need to at least talk to neuro first.
What would you do? I feel really lost right now.
Neurontin doesn't appear to be doing the expected things (pain control & migraine prevention) but my head often appears to be clear - the fog seems to have lifted somehow - which is huge in itself as I have not felt this kind of clarity for many years - even lasted for the whole of thursday. this started only last week, so who knows if it will stay, and will it be enough of a result to justify continuing to take it? As I guess I'll be needing something else to control the muscle pain which has not let up really.
Well, better go sort out dinner - grreat to hear from you demi
  :-)

[Demiguise]

Thank you for thinking of me. As you have seen, I'm back off/on
forum again. I'm human & when some get combative, best to take
a break. August was especially an 'everything going wrong month'
& I still answer a few. As awful as it sounds, I get some good
grins out of some bizarre posts/answers. My vagal response
almost kicks in. (A little fainting spell). Just a joke. I've
been w/ the forums since the early 90's & never posted a
thread once. Although I trust my brain so who would I ask. I
have a problem that I deal w/ like others. I did go back to
painting but a hand tremor isn't great for that. I've been
playing w/ charcoal sketching & found it's much more forgiving.
The tremor works good for smudging! Let me know how things are
going w/ Orthoptist. Control eyes & that should lesson your
headaches. Also did a little research, & found that Imitrex
seems to be the Rx of choice for results. Got the info direct
from some I know that have suffered for years. They use pills
between since they hate injection. Talk later.

[Demiguise]

Thank you for thinking of me. As you have seen, I'm back off/on
forum again. I'm human & when some get combative, best to take
a break. August was especially an 'everything going wrong month'
& I still answer a few. As awful as it sounds, I get some good
grins out of some bizarre posts/answers. My vagal response
almost kicks in. (A little fainting spell). Just a joke. I've
been w/ the forums since the early 90's & never posted a
thread once. Although I trust my brain so who would I ask. I
have a problem that I deal w/ like others. I did go back to
painting but a hand tremor isn't great for that. I've been
playing w/ charcoal sketching & found it's much more forgiving.
The tremor works good for smudging! Let me know how things are
going w/ Orthoptist. Control eyes & that should lesson your
headaches. Also did a little research, & found that Imitrex
seems to be the Rx of choice for results. Got the info direct
from some I know that have suffered for years. They use pills
between since they hate injection. Talk later.

[zzzzzzzzzz]

Wow - Thank you so much!!!!! You were so good to even bother reading the load of stuff I wrote - Its just fantastic to get more info on why these things happen - I'm the kinda girl who just has to know why - drove my parents crazy!. I had the kind of parents who just went with the flow - never really checked out any of my weird goings on - just thought I'd grow out of it. And my dad was a child psycologist! Unfortunately, he was also unable to accept that his children could be anything less than perfect. Didn't even get speech therapy til I was 12!  Spent most of my childhood with one eye closed - if open, one of them would wonder off - which is what happens now alot in spite of the prism - wasn't doing it much when first got glasses, so thats another reason to suspect Rx. Never knew it all could be so complicated.
I too get worse with wind & cold - we got a polar blast the other day (winter here) and I was in agony. Strangely, a shot of Imitrex did wonders- it wasn't a migraine - as I said, both arms were swolen and spine (not head) hurt like hell - don't know why it works for that, but it does.
If I were to get a lumbar puncture, I would certainly be checking out who was doing it - my mother had one to test for meningitis - registrar was called away and they let a young pimply guy do it - the result was a 6 week headache from hell - he got blood in the sample so they couldn't use it and her spinal fluid leaked everywhere after they moved her way too early - had to be flown to big city for loads of horrid tests instead.
How are you anyway - did you take up painting again now that you spend less time on this site? Sad that you've been put off, but also understandable. Still, a great loss for many I should think - I often read a post & think 'this is one for Demi - hope she/he sees it'. I read posts and think wow - you've been through so much - no wonder your knowlege is so vast.
Cheers, xx